ASIATIC WASPS. 



499 



fine insect is found throughout China and Japan. It is coloured 

 very much like our common hornet, but is much richer in appear- 

 ance, owing to the very broad and ample head, and the amount 

 of bright yellow upon it. The colours are rich dark brown, 

 banded, striped, and marked profusely with " king's " yellow. 

 The jaws are enormously powerful. The wings are yellow, 

 darker at the base, and becoming lighter towards the tips. 



The species which is represented in the accompanying illus- 

 tration is a native of Asia, and is spread over a very large tract 



Fig. 270. — Vespa eincta. 

 (Dark brown and yelluw.) 



of country. There are several Asiatic species of Vespa which 

 are almost exactly similar in their habits, and this may safely 

 be taken as the t}q3ical species. The head and thorax of Vespa 

 cincta are dark brown, covered with a moderately thick grey 

 down, and the abdomen is very dark brown, crossed with a bold 

 band of bright yellow, whence is derived the specific name of 

 cincta, or " banded." 



